Chambers of Commerce issue and authenticate documents required by businesses for exports. Documents issued by the Chamber of Commerce for international trade include, among others, the general certificate of origin of the European Union and the ATA Carnet customs document for temporary exports. In addition to these, the Chamber of Commerce authenticates various documents such as commercial invoices and packing lists. For the delivery of paper certificates of origin, postage time must be allowed, while electronic certificates are generally available on the same day. Please inform us separately via phone about particularly urgent cases. Prior arrangements must be made via phone for wet seal authentication of documents at our offices. The delivery time for ATA Carnets is five working days.
Some countries require the legalization and/or authentication of documents. Legalization refers to a procedure carried out by the relevant country’s consulate or other diplomatic representation, while authentication is a procedure performed by the Chamber of Commerce.
Certificate of Origin
In certain countries, presenting a certificate of origin is a prerequisite for the importation of goods. The purpose of the certificate of origin is solely to demonstrate the origin of the goods, in order to comply with customs or commercial requirements (e.g., opening letters of credit).
The certificate of origin issued by the Chamber of Commerce is a standardized form used in trade between the European Union and third countries.
Customers apply for authentication of certificates of origin and other documents through the electronic export documents service, “vientiasiakirjat.fi.” For the delivery of paper certificates of origin, postage time must be allowed, while electronic certificates are generally available on the same day. Please inform us separately via phone about particularly urgent cases. Prior arrangements must be made via phone for wet seal authentication of documents at our office in Kokkola.
Proceed to the export document service here.
Price list
For more information, visit the Chamber of Commerce website kauppakamari.fi.
ATA carnet
An ATA Carnet is an international customs document that allows for the temporary export of goods to countries that are parties to the relevant customs convention.
It covers:
- Exhibition goods
- Professional equipment
- Commercial samples
The system facilitates and simplifies temporary customs and tax exemption procedures. 78 countries are part of the ATA Carnet system.
ATA Carnet:
- replaces export documents in the country of departure
- replaces the customs documents required in the temporary destination country
- includes an internationally accepted guarantee covering any customs duties and import taxes on the goods being imported
- also serves as a transit document for goods
An ATA Carnet is valid for one year. Carnets are issued in the countries that have agreed to the Convention by the Chambers of Commerce, which collectively form a guarantee network for customs duties.
The redemption fee is determined by the total value of the goods listed in the inventory and the number of destination countries. Additionally, the applicant must deposit a security sum with the Chamber of Commerce, which they will receive back upon the proper return of the Carnet to the Chamber. Chamber members receive ATA Carnets at half price.
Based on the application, the Chamber of Commerce prepares the actual ATA Carnet. ATA Carnets for the area covered by the Ostrobothnia Chamber of Commerce are processed in Helsinki. The delivery time for Carnets is a maximum of five working days plus postage time.
For more information and application forms, visit www.atacarnet.fi.
Special Certificates
Service Hours
Electronic certificates of origin and other electronically authenticated documents are validated twice daily, at 11:00 and 14:00. In the morning, documents submitted up to that point on the same day are validated, as well as those received during the previous afternoon and evening. In the afternoon, documents received throughout the day are validated.
In urgent cases, we aim to provide faster service. If the documents requiring authentication are urgent, please contact Carina by phone. Emilia serves as the backup contact person.
For documents requiring wet seal authentication, an appointment must be scheduled no later than the previous working day by calling the Kokkola office, where the documents will be stamped.
Documents requiring wet seal authentication will be mailed the next working day after arrival at the Chamber of Commerce.
ATA Carnet documents have a delivery time of five working days.
In the event of offices being exceptionally closed entirely, we will notify users registered with the exportdocuments.fi service via email.
Phone numbers for appointment scheduling for wet seal authenticated documents and urgent cases:
Carina, phone: +358 44 782 6332
Emilia, phone: +358 44 491 0077